Provision of an emergency alert message via an internet protocol multimedia broadcast

ABSTRACT

An emergency alert message in the form of multimedia is distributed via an Internet Protocol multimedia broadcast system utilizing wireless communications networks. In an example embodiment, the IP multimedia broadcast based system includes the Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) and is utilized with Global System for Mobile communications/Universal Mobile Telecommunications System/Long Term Evolution (GSM/UMTS/LTE) networks, the Broadcast and Multicast Services (BCMCS) and is utilized with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks, or a combination thereof. Multimedia information can include text, maps, graphics, video clips, audio clips, still pictures, and/or images, for example. In an example embodiment, the multimedia emergency alert message is provided along with a link to additional multimedia information related to the emergency alert.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical field generally relates to communications systems and morespecifically relates providing multimedia Emergency Alert System (EAS)alert messages via IP broadcast.

BACKGROUND

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is capable of providing messagesindicative of a variety of types of alerts. Via the EAS, subscribersthereof can receive messages pertaining to weather conditions,disasters, AMBER (America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response)alerts, and/or alerts issued by the Government, for example.Implementations of the EAS are limited to non-Internet Protocolbroadcast technologies.

SUMMARY

A multimedia alert message, such as an Emergency Alert System (EAS)multimedia alert message, is distributed via an Internet Protocol (IP)Broadcast type distribution technology via a cellular network.Multimedia EAS alerts can include text, audio, video, graphics, maps,and animations, for example. In an example embodiment, for GSM/UMTS/LTE(Global System for Mobile communications/Universal MobileTelecommunications System/Long Term Evolution) networks, the technologycan comprise a MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service). And, forCDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) networks, the technology cancomprise BCMCS (Broadcast and Multicast Services).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description, isbetter understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings.

FIG. 1 flow diagram of an example process and system for utilization ofan Internet Protocol (IP) based cellular broadcast to receive multimediaalerts.

FIG. 2 depicts an overall block diagram of an exemplary packet-basedmobile cellular network environment.

FIG. 3 illustrates an architecture of a typical GPRS network.

FIG. 4 illustrates another exemplary block diagram view of a GSM/GPRS/IPmultimedia network architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Alerts formatted as multimedia, such as text, an image (e.g., apicture), video, and/or audio, can be advantageous in varioussituations. For example, a subscriber could benefit from receivingmultimedia information associated with an alert pertaining to adisaster/emergency. Multimedia such as maps, graphics, video clips,audio clips, images, and/or still pictures can aid the subscriber, forexample a first responder or an emergency manager at a disaster site oremergency situation, in better assessing the situation and/or directingothers.

Various embodiments of utilizing an Internet Protocol (IP) cellularbroadcast system to receive multimedia alerts are described herein. Inthe various embodiments, an alert message can comprise a downloadedmultimedia alert message, a link to a Uniform Resource Locator (URL),and/or a pointer to a link, or the like, from which the multimedia canbe retrieved. In an example embodiment, the alert message can comprise amultimedia message that is provided to a subscriber's mobile device viaan IP cellular broadcast system. In another example embodiment, thealert message can comprise a multimedia message and a link to additionalmultimedia information that is provided to a subscriber's mobile devicevia an IP cellular broadcast system. In yet another example embodiment,the alert message can comprise a multimedia message and a pointer to alink to additional multimedia information that is provided to asubscriber's mobile device via an IP cellular broadcast system. Forexample, the alert message can comprise an alert message formatted asmultimedia and an address in storage of a mobile device, and the addresscontains the link to a URL for additional multimedia information. Themultimedia can be retrieved automatically or manually. The variousembodiments are described with reference to FIG. 1, which is a flowdiagram of an example process and system for utilizing an IP cellularbroadcast system to receive multimedia alerts.

In an example embodiment, a multimedia alert message is delivered to auser device 22 via an IP cellular broadcast system. The emergency alertnetwork 12 provides, at step 36, an indication of an emergency. Theemergency alert network 12 provides (at step 36) the indication of thealert to an emergency alert interface server 16. In an exampleembodiment, the emergency alert network 12 provides the alert messagecomprising a message formatted in multimedia. In another exampleembodiment, the emergency interface server 16 formats the alert messageto contain multimedia information. The emergency alert network 12, theemergency alert interface server 16, or a combination thereof, canprovide the multimedia content. For example, instructional video clips,or the like, for the emergency can be preloaded on the emergency alertinterface server 16 on the wireless operator network and sent when anassociated emergency occurs. Dynamic multimedia information such aspaths of tornadoes, evacuation routes, maps of affected areas, or thelike, can be sent by the emergency alert network 12. At step 38, theemergency alert interface server 16 provides, to a cellular radionetwork 18, the multimedia alert message. In an example embodiment, themultimedia alert message is provided via an IP based technology such as,for example a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) whenutilizing Global System for Mobile communications/Universal MobileTelecommunications System/Long Term Evolution (GSM/UMTS/LTE), Broadcastand Multicast Services (BCMCS) when utilizing Code Division MultipleAccess (CDMA) networks, or a combination thereof. Thus, at step 38, themultimedia alert message is provided via an IP based distribution systemto the cellular radio network 18. And, the cellular network 18 comprisesMBMS utilizing GSM/UMTS/LTE, BCMCS utilizing CDMA networks, or acombination thereof. IP based broadcast technologies provide the abilityto communicate over an IP infrastructure to a large number of recipientswithout requiring prior knowledge of the number of recipients. MBMS is abroadcasting service available via GSM, UMTS, and LTE cellular networks.Utilization of MBMS via GSM/UMTS/LTE provides an uplink channel betweenthe service provider and the subscriber, which is not typicallyavailable in conventional broadcast networks.

In an example embodiment, a multimedia alert message is delivered to auser device along with a list of associated URL addresses for an relatedmultimedia information, wherein the subscriber can select multimediainformation from the list. In this example embodiment, at step 38, theemergency alert interface server 16 provides, to the cellular radionetwork 18, a combination of an indication of the alert message andmultimedia related information. The emergency interface server 16formats the alert message to contain multimedia information. In thisexample embodiment, the combination of the multimedia alert message andthe list of associated URL addresses is provided via an IP basedtechnology such as, for example MBMS when utilizing GSM/UMTS/LTE, BCMCSwhen utilizing CDMA networks, or a combination thereof. Thus, at step38, the multimedia alert message and the related information areprovided via an IP cellular broadcast system to the cellular radionetwork 18. And, the cellular network 18 comprises MBMS utilizingGSM/UMTS/LTE, BCMCS utilizing CDMA networks, or a combination thereof.

At step 40, the cellular radio network 18, provides to a cellularnetwork processor 28 of the user device 22, the multimedia alert messageand the optional indication of the location of multimedia associatedwith the alert. In an example embodiment, the subscriber receives themultimedia alert message, which is rendered (e.g., visually,mechanically, acoustically, etc.) via the user interface 30 of the userdevice 22. In another example embodiment, the subscriber decides whetherto retrieve additional multimedia and selects which URL from which toretrieve the multimedia. The retrieved multimedia information canaugment previously rendered multimedia information and/or representcomplete multimedia information pertaining to the emergency alert. Inaccordance with this embodiment, at step 46, the multimedia alertmessage along with the indication of the location of multimediaassociated with the alert are provided to the user interface 30. Theuser interface 30 comprises, for example, a display, speaker, and/orvibrating device, for rendering the multimedia alert message visually,acoustically, and/or mechanically, respectively. The user interface 30also can render the location(s) of the multimedia. In an exampleembodiment, the user interface 30 displays a link, or links, to a URL,or URLs, from which multimedia can be retrieved. If the subscriberdecides to retrieve the multimedia, the subscriber selects the link, orlinks, from which to retrieve the multimedia.

If the subscriber selects a link to retrieve multimedia informationpertaining to an emergency alert, at step 48, an indication of thesubscriber's selection is provided to the data network processor 32. Thedata network processor 32 establishes a connection with the data network20, if a connection is not currently established. At step 50, the datanetwork processor 32 provides to the data network 20, the URLaddress(es) selected by the subscriber. The data network 20, at step 52,using the selected URL address, establishes a connection with anemergency information network 14. The emergency information network 14can comprise any appropriate network, processor, storage means, or thelike, capable of storing and retrieving multimedia informationassociated with an alert. The data network 20 establishes the connectionwith the location in the emergency information network 14 indicated bythe selected URL(s). The data network 20, also at step 52, requestsretrieval of the multimedia located at the selected URL(s) in theemergency information network 14. The emergency information network 14,at step 54, provides the requested multimedia information to the datanetwork 20. The data network 20 provides the requested multimediainformation to the data network processor 32, at step 56. The datanetwork processor 32 provides the requested multimedia information tothe user interface 30 for rendering. In various embodiments, multimediainformation associated with each selected URL can be retrievedindividually, multimedia information associated with a subset of theselected URLs can be retrieved, or multimedia information associatedwith all the selected URLs can be retrieved.

In another example embodiment, the multimedia alert message is deliveredto the user device 22 along with a list of associated URL addresses forany related multimedia information. The user device 12 automaticallyretrieves the multimedia information using the list of URL addressesprovided. In this embodiment, steps 36, 38, and 40 occur as describedabove. At step 46, however, the indication of the alert, without theindication of the location of multimedia associated with the alert, isprovided to the user interface 30. The cellular network processor 28extracts the list of URL addresses from the emergency alert message and,at step 60, requests the data network processor 32 to retrieve theassociated multimedia information. At step 50, the data networkprocessor 32 provides to the data network 20, the URL address(es)extracted by the cellular network processor 28.

The data network 20, at step 52, using the extracted URL address,establishes a connection with an emergency information network 14. Thedata network 20 establishes the connection with the location in theemergency information network 14 indicated by the selected URL(s). Thedata network 20, also at step 52, requests retrieval of the multimedialocated at the extracted URL(s) in the emergency information network.14. The emergency information network 14, at step 54, provides therequested multimedia information to the data network 20. The datanetwork 20 provides the requested multimedia information to the datanetwork processor 32, at step 56. The data network processor 32 providesthe requested multimedia information to the user interface 30 forrendering. In various embodiments, multimedia information associatedwith each selected URL can be retrieved individually, multimediainformation associated with a subset of the selected URLs can beretrieved, or multimedia information associated with all the selectedURLs can be retrieved.

In another example embodiment, the multimedia alert message is deliveredto the user device 22 without the list of associated URL addresses forany related multimedia information. And, the user device 22 comprises apreprovisioned database 26, or appropriate storage, having storedthereon associated addresses of multimedia information based upon thereceived multimedia alert message. A list of associated URL addressesfor related multimedia information is generated from the preprovisioneddatabase 26. The user selects links to multimedia from the generatedlist.

At step 34, prior to the occurrence of an event resulting in an alert,the locations, e.g., URL addresses, for multimedia emergency alertinformation are downloaded to the user device database 26 from anemergency URL database 24. The emergency URL database 24 can compriseany appropriate network, processor, storage, or the like, capable ofstoring and providing multimedia information and/or URL addressesassociated with multimedia information pertaining to an alert. Upon theoccurrence of an event, such as an emergency or the like, the emergencyalert network 12 provides, at step 36, an indication of the emergency.The emergency alert network 12 provides (at step 36) the indication ofthe alert to an emergency alert interface server 16 without anindication of a location of multimedia associated with the alert. Atstep 38, the emergency alert interface server 16 provides, to a cellularradio network 18, the alert message information. In an exampleembodiment, the alert message is provided, as described above, via an IPcellular broadcast system. Thus, in accordance with this exampleembodiment, at step 38, the indication of the alert without theindication of the location of multimedia associated with the alert isprovided, via an IP cellular broadcast system, to the cellular radionetwork 18.

At step 40, the cellular radio network 18, provides to the cellularnetwork processor 28 of a user device 22, the indication of the alertwithout the indication of the location of multimedia associated with thealert. The cellular network processor 28 determines the type ofemergency, or the like, based upon the received emergency alert message.The cellular network processor 28 requests, at step 42, the list ofassociated URL addresses from the user device database 26. The userdevice database 26 retrieves the list of URL addresses associated withthe indicated type of emergency, or the like, and returns, at step 44,the list of URL addresses to the cellular network processor 28.

In an example embodiment, the user decides whether to retrieve themultimedia and selects which URL from which to retrieve the multimedia.In accordance with this embodiment, at step 46, the indication of thealert along with the indication of the location of multimedia associatedwith the alert are provided to the user interface 30. The user interface30 renders the alert message in textual format. The user interface 30also renders the locations of the multimedia. In an example embodiment,the user interface 30 renders a link, or links, to a URL, or URLs, fromwhich multimedia can be retrieved. If the user decides to retrieve themultimedia, the use selects the link, or links, from which to retrievethe multimedia.

At step 48, an indication of the user's selection is provided to thedata network processor 32. The data network processor 32 establishes aconnection with the data network 20, if a connection is not currentlyestablished. At step 50, the data network processor 32 provides to thedata network 20, the URL address(es) selected by the user. The datanetwork 20, at step 52, using the selected URL address, establishes aconnection with an emergency information network 14. The data network 20establishes the connection with the location in the emergencyinformation network 14 indicated by the selected URL(s). The datanetwork 20, also at step 52, requests retrieval of the multimedialocated at the selected URL(s) in the emergency information network 14.The emergency information network 14, at step 54, provides the requestedmultimedia information to the data network 20. The data network 20provides the requested multimedia information to the data networkprocessor 32, at step 56. The data network processor 32 provides therequested multimedia information to the user interface 30 for rendering.In various embodiments, multimedia information associated with eachselected URL can be retrieved individually, multimedia informationassociated with a subset of the selected URLs can be retrieved, ormultimedia information associated with all the selected URLs can beretrieved.

In another example embodiment, the alert message is delivered to theuser device 22 without the list of associated URL addresses for anyrelated multimedia information. The user device 22 comprises apreprovisioned database 26, or appropriate storage means, having storedtherein associated addresses of multimedia information based upon thereceived alert message. A list of associated URL addresses for relatedmultimedia information is generated from the preprovisioned database 26.The user device 12 automatically retrieves the multimedia informationusing the generated list of URL addresses.

In this embodiment, at step 34, prior to the occurrence of an eventresulting in an alert, the multimedia information and/or URL addressesfor multimedia emergency alert information is downloaded to the userdevice database 26 from an emergency Multimedia/URL database 24. Uponthe occurrence of an event, such as an emergency or the like, theemergency alert network 12 provides, at step 36, an indication of theemergency. The emergency alert network 12 provides (at step 36) theindication of the alert to an emergency alert interface server 16without an indication of a location of multimedia associated with thealert. At step 40, the emergency alert interface server 16 provides, toa cellular radio network 18, the alert message information. In anexample embodiment, the multimedia alert message is provided, asdescribed above for example, via MBMS when utilizing GSM/UMTS/LTE, BCMCSwhen utilizing CDMA networks, or a combination thereof. Thus, inaccordance with this example embodiment, at step 38, the indication ofthe alert without the indication of the location of multimediaassociated with the alert is provided, via an IP cellular broadcastsystem, to the cellular radio network 18, wherein the cellular network18 can comprise, for example, MBMS utilizing GSM/UMTS/LTE, BCMCSutilizing CDMA networks, or a combination thereof.

At step 40, the cellular radio network 18, provides to the cellularnetwork processor 28 of a user device 22, the indication of the alertwithout the indication of the location of multimedia associated with thealert. The cellular network processor 28 determines the type ofemergency, or the like, based upon the received emergency alert message.The cellular network processor 28 requests, at step 42, a list of themultimedia files, the list of associated URL addresses, or a combinationthereof, from the user device database 26. The user device database 26retrieves the list of multimedia files and/or the list of URL addressesassociated with the indicated type of emergency, or the like, andreturns, at step 44, the list of multimedia files and/or the list of URLaddresses to the cellular network processor 28. At step 46, themultimedia alert message, without the indication of the location ofmultimedia associated with the alert, is provided to the user interface30 for rendering.

The cellular network processor 28, using the generated list of URLaddresses, requests, at step 60, the data network processor 32 toretrieve the multimedia information associated with the generated listof URLs. At step 50, the data network processor 32 provides to the datanetwork 20, the generated list URL addresses. The data network 20, atstep 52, using the generated URL address, establishes a connection withan emergency information network 14. The data network 20 establishes theconnection with the location in the emergency information network 14indicated by the generated URL addresses. The data network 20, also atstep 52, requests retrieval of the multimedia located at the extractedURL addresses in the emergency information network 14. The emergencyinformation network 14, at step 54, provides the requested multimediainformation to the data network 20. The data network 20 provides therequested multimedia information to the data network processor 32, atstep 56. The data network processor 32 provides the requested multimediainformation to the user interface 30 for rendering. In variousembodiments, multimedia information associated with each selected URLcan be retrieved individually, multimedia information associated with asubset of the selected URLs can be retrieved, or multimedia informationassociated with all the selected URLs can be retrieved.

The user device 22 can comprise any appropriate user device. Forexample, the user device 22 comprise a mobile device, a portable device,a variety of computing devices including (a) a portable media player,e.g., a portable music player, such as an MP3 player, a walkmans, etc.,(b) a portable computing device, such as a laptop, a personal digitalassistant (“PDA”), a portable phone, such as a cell phone of the like, asmart phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a video phone, aportable email device, a thin client, a portable gaming device, etc.,(c) consumer electronic devices, such as TVs, DVD players, set topboxes, monitors, displays, etc., (d) a public computing device, such asa kiosk, an in-store music sampling device, an automated teller machine(ATM), a cash register, etc., (e) a navigation device whether portableor installed in-vehicle and/or (f) a non-conventional computing device,such as a kitchen appliance, a motor vehicle control (e.g., steeringwheel), etc., or a combination thereof.

The user device 22 can comprise a system comprising an input/outputportion, a processing portion, and a memory portion. In an exampleembodiment the memory portion comprises the user device database 26and/or any memory associated with the cellular network processor 28, thedata network processor 32, the user interface 30, or a combinationthereof, for example. The processing portion can comprise the cellularnetwork processor 28, the data network processor 32, or any appropriateportions thereof, for example. The input/output portion can comprise anyappropriate portions of the user device database 26, the cellularnetwork processor 28, and the data network processor 32, that interfacewith the emergency URL database 24, the cellular radio network 18, andthe data network 20.

It is emphasized that the diagram depicted in FIG. 1 of the user deviceis exemplary and not intended to imply a specific implementation. Thus,the user device 22 can be implemented in a single processor or multipleprocessors. Multiple processors can be distributed or centrally located.Multiple processors can communicate wirelessly, via hard wire, or acombination thereof.

The cellular radio network 18 can comprise any appropriate telephonyradio network. The following description sets forth some exemplarytelephony radio networks, such as the global system for mobilecommunications (GSM), and non-limiting operating environments. Thebelow-described operating environments should be considerednon-exhaustive, however, and thus the below-described networkarchitectures merely show how utilization of IP cellular broadcast toreceive multimedia alerts can be incorporated with existing networkstructures and architectures. It can be appreciated, however, thatutilization of IP cellular broadcast systems to receive multimediaalerts can be incorporated with existing and/or future alternativearchitectures for communication networks as well.

The GSM is one of the most widely utilized wireless access systems intoday's fast growing communication environment. The GSM providescircuit-switched data services to subscribers, such as mobile telephoneor computer users. The General Packet Radio Service (“GPRS”), which isan extension to GSM technology, introduces packet switching to GSMnetworks. The GPRS uses a packet-based wireless communication technologyto transfer high and low speed data and signaling in an efficientmanner. The GPRS attempts to optimize the use of network and radioresources, thus enabling the cost effective and efficient use of GSMnetwork resources for packet mode applications.

As one of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate, the exemplaryGSM/GPRS environment and services described herein also can be extendedto 3G services, such as Universal Mobile Telephone System (“UMTS”),Frequency Division Duplexing (“FDD”) and Time Division Duplexing(“TDD”), High Speed Packet Data Access (“HSPDA”), cdma2000 1x EvolutionData Optimized (“EVDO”), Code Division Multiple Access-2000 (“cdma20003x”), Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access(“TD-SCDMA”), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (“WCDMA”), EnhancedData GSM Environment (“EDGE”), International MobileTelecommunications-2000 (“IMT-2000”), Digital Enhanced CordlessTelecommunications (“DECT”), 4G Services such as Long Term Evolution(LTE), etc., as well as to other network services that become availablein time. In this regard, the techniques of the utilization of SMS and/orcellular broadcast to receive multimedia alerts can be appliedindependently of the method of data transport, and do not depend on anyparticular network architecture, or underlying protocols.

FIG. 2 depicts an overall block diagram of an exemplary packet-basedmobile cellular network environment, such as a GPRS network, in whichutilization of IP cellular broadcast systems to receive multimediaalerts can be practiced. In an example configuration, the Cellular radionetwork 18 is encompassed by the network environment depicted in FIG. 2.In such an environment, there are a plurality of Base Station Subsystems(“BSS”) 900 (only one is shown), each of which comprises a Base StationController (“BSC”) 902 serving a plurality of Base Transceiver Stations(“BTS”) such as BTSs 904, 906, and 908. BTSs 904, 906, 908, etc. are theaccess points where users of packet-based mobile devices (e.g., userdevice 22) become connected to the wireless network. In exemplaryfashion, the packet traffic originating from user devices (e.g., userdevice 20) is transported via an over-the-air interface to a BTS 908,and from the BTS 908 to the BSC 902. Base station subsystems, such asBSS 900, are a part of internal frame relay network 910 that can includeService GPRS Support Nodes (“SGSN”) such as SGSN 912 and 914. Each SGSNis connected to an internal packet network 920 through which a SGSN 912,914, etc. can route data packets to and from a plurality of gateway GPRSsupport nodes (GGSN) 922, 924, 926, etc. As illustrated, SGSN 914 andGGSNs 922, 924, and 926 are part of internal packet network 920. GatewayGPRS serving nodes 922, 924 and 926 mainly provide an interface toexternal Internet Protocol (“IP”) networks such as Public Land MobileNetwork (“PLMN”) 950, corporate intranets 940, or Fixed-End System(“FES”) or the public Internet 930. As illustrated, subscriber corporatenetwork 940 may be connected to GGSN 924 via firewall 932; and PLMN 950is connected to GGSN 924 via boarder gateway router 934. The RemoteAuthentication Dial-In User Service (“RADIUS”) server 942 may be usedfor caller authentication when a user of a mobile cellular device callscorporate network 940.

Generally, there can be four different cell sizes in a GSM network,referred to as macro, micro, pico, and umbrella cells. The coverage areaof each cell is different in different environments. Macro cells can beregarded as cells in which the base station antenna is installed in amast or a building above average roof top level. Micro cells are cellswhose antenna height is under average roof top level. Micro-cells aretypically used in urban areas. Pico cells are small cells having adiameter of a few dozen meters. Pico cells are used mainly indoors. Onthe other hand, umbrella cells are used to cover shadowed regions ofsmaller cells and fill in gaps in coverage between those cells.

FIG. 3 illustrates an architecture of a typical GPRS network segmentedinto four groups: users 1050, radio access network 1060, core network1070, and interconnect network 1080. Users 1050 comprise a plurality ofend users (though only mobile subscriber 1055 is shown in FIG. 3). In anexample embodiment, the device depicted as mobile subscriber 1055comprises user device 22. Radio access network 1060 comprises aplurality of base station subsystems such as BSSs 1062, which includeBTSs 1064 and BSCs 1066. Core network 1070 comprises a host of variousnetwork elements. As illustrated here, core network 1070 may compriseMobile Switching Center (“MSC”) 1071, Service Control Point (“SCP”)1072, gateway MSC 1073, SGSN 1076, Home Location Register (“HLR”) 1074,Authentication Center (“AuC”) 1075, Domain Name Server (“DNS”) 1077, andGGSN 1078. Interconnect network 1080 also comprises a host of variousnetworks and other network elements. As illustrated in FIG. 3,interconnect network 1080 comprises Public Switched Telephone Network(“PSTN”) 1082, Fixed-End System (“FES”) or Internet 1084, firewall 1088,and Corporate Network 1089.

A mobile switching center can be connected to a large number of basestation controllers. At MSC 1071, for instance, depending on the type oftraffic, the traffic may be separated in that voice may be sent toPublic Switched Telephone Network (“PSTN”) 1082 through Gateway MSC(“GMSC”) 1073, and/or data may be sent to SGSN 1076, which then sendsthe data traffic to GGSN 1078 for further forwarding.

When MSC 1071 receives call traffic, for example, from BSC 1066, itsends a query to a database hosted by SCP 1072. The SCP 1072 processesthe request and issues a response to MSC 1071 so that it may continuecall processing as appropriate.

The HLR 1074 is a centralized database for users to register to the GPRSnetwork. HLR 1074 stores static information about the subscribers suchas the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (“IMSI”), subscribedservices, and a key for authenticating the subscriber. HLR 1074 alsostores dynamic subscriber information such as the current location ofthe mobile subscriber. Associated with HLR 1074 is AuC 1075. AuC 1075 isa database that contains the algorithms for authenticating subscribersand includes the associated keys for encryption to safeguard the userinput for authentication.

In the following, depending on context, the term “mobile subscriber”sometimes refers to the end user and sometimes to the actual portabledevice, such as the user device 22, used by an end user of the mobilecellular service. When a mobile subscriber turns on his or her mobiledevice, the mobile device goes through an attach process by which themobile device attaches to an SGSN of the GPRS network. In FIG. 3, whenmobile subscriber 1055 initiates the attach process by turning on thenetwork capabilities of the mobile device, an attach request is sent bymobile subscriber 1055 to SGSN 1076. The SGSN 1076 queries another SGSN,to which mobile subscriber 1055 was attached before, for the identity ofmobile subscriber 1055. Upon receiving the identity of mobile subscriber1055 from the other SGSN, SGSN 1076 requests more information frommobile subscriber 1055. This information is used to authenticate mobilesubscriber 1055 to SGSN 1076 by HLR 1074. Once verified, SGSN 1076 sendsa location update to HLR 1074 indicating the change of location to a newSGSN, in this case SGSN 1076. HLR 1074 notifies the old SGSN, to whichmobile subscriber 1055 was attached before, to cancel the locationprocess for mobile subscriber 1055. HLR 1074 then notifies SGSN 1076that the location update has been performed. At this time, SGSN 1076sends an Attach Accept message to mobile subscriber 1055, which in turnsends an Attach Complete message to SGSN 1076.

After attaching itself with the network, mobile subscriber 1055 thengoes through the authentication process. In the authentication process,SGSN 1076 sends the authentication information to HLR 1074, which sendsinformation back to SGSN 1076 based on the user profile that was part ofthe user's initial setup. The SGSN 1076 then sends a request forauthentication and ciphering to mobile subscriber 1055. The mobilesubscriber 1055 uses an algorithm to send the user identification (ID)and password to SGSN 1076. The SGSN 1076 uses the same algorithm andcompares the result. If a match occurs, SGSN 1076 authenticates mobilesubscriber 1055.

Next, the mobile subscriber 1055 establishes a user session with thedestination network, corporate network 1089, by going through a PacketData Protocol (“PDP”) activation process. Briefly, in the process,mobile subscriber 1055 requests access to the Access Point Name (“APN”),for example, UPS.com, and SGSN 1076 receives the activation request frommobile subscriber 1055. SGSN 1076 then initiates a Domain Name Service(“DNS”) query to learn which GGSN node has access to the UPS.com APN.The DNS query is sent to the DNS server within the core network 1070,such as DNS 1077, which is provisioned to map to one or more GGSN nodesin the core network 1070. Based on the APN, the mapped GGSN 1078 canaccess the requested corporate network 1089. The SGSN 1076 then sends toGGSN 1078 a Create Packet Data Protocol (“PDP”) Context Request messagethat contains necessary information. The GGSN 1078 sends a Create PDPContext Response message to SGSN 1076, which then sends an Activate PDPContext Accept message to mobile subscriber 1055.

Once activated, data packets of the call made by mobile subscriber 1055can then go through radio access network 1060, core network 1070, andinterconnect network 1080, in a particular fixed-end system or Internet1084 and firewall 1088, to reach corporate network 1089.

Thus, network elements that can invoke the functionality of utilizationof IP cellular broadcast systems to receive multimedia alerts caninclude but are not limited to Gateway GPRS Support Node tables, FixedEnd System router tables, firewall systems, VPN tunnels, and any numberof other network elements as required by the particular digital network.

FIG. 4 illustrates another exemplary block diagram view of a GSM/GPRS/IPmultimedia network architecture 1100 with which the utilization of IPcellular broadcast systems to receive multimedia alerts can beincorporated. As illustrated, architecture 1100 of FIG. 4 includes a GSMcore network 1101, a GPRS network 1130 and an IP multimedia network1138. The GSM core network 1101 includes a Mobile Station (MS) 1102, atleast one Base Transceiver Station (BTS) 1104 and a Base StationController (BSC) 1106. The MS 1102 is physical equipment or MobileEquipment (ME), such as a mobile phone or a laptop computer (e.g., userdevice 22) that is used by mobile subscribers, with a Subscriberidentity Module (SIM). The SIM includes an International MobileSubscriber Identity (IMSI), which is a unique identifier of asubscriber. The BTS 1104 is physical equipment, such as a radio tower,that enables a radio interface to communicate with the MS. Each BTS mayserve more than one MS. The BSC 1106 manages radio resources, includingthe BTS. The BSC may be connected to several BTSs. The BSC and BTScomponents, in combination, are generally referred to as a base station(BSS) or radio access network (RAN) 1103.

The GSM core network 1101 also includes a Mobile Switching Center (MSC)1108, a Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) 1110, a Home LocationRegister (HLR) 1112, Visitor Location Register (VLR) 1114, anAuthentication Center (AuC) 1118, and an Equipment Identity Register(EIR) 1116. The MSC 1108 performs a switching function for the network.The MSC also performs other functions, such as registration,authentication, location updating, handovers, and call routing. The GMSC1110 provides a gateway between the GSM network and other networks, suchas an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) or Public SwitchedTelephone Networks (PSTNs) 1120. Thus, the GMSC 1110 providesinterworking functionality with external networks.

The HLR 1112 is a database that contains administrative informationregarding each subscriber registered in a corresponding GSM network. TheHLR 1112 also contains the current location of each MS. The VLR 1114 isa database that contains selected administrative information from theHLR 1112. The VLR contains information necessary for call control andprovision of subscribed services for each MS currently located in ageographical area controlled by the VLR. The HLR 1112 and the VLR 1114,together with the MSC 1108, provide the call routing and roamingcapabilities of GSM. The AuC 1116 provides the parameters needed forauthentication and encryption functions. Such parameters allowverification of a subscriber's identity. The EIR 1118 storessecurity-sensitive information about the mobile equipment.

A Short Message Service Center (SMSC) 1109 allows one-to-one ShortMessage Service (SMS) messages to be sent to/from the MS 1102. A PushProxy Gateway (PPG) 1111 is used to “push” (i.e., send without asynchronous request) content to the MS 1102. The PPG 1111 acts as aproxy between wired and wireless networks to facilitate pushing of datato the MS 1102. A Short Message Peer to Peer (SMPP) protocol router 1113is provided to convert SMS-based SMPP messages to cell broadcastmessages. SMPP is a protocol for exchanging SMS messages between SMSpeer entities such as short message service centers. The SMPP protocolis often used to allow third parties, e.g., content suppliers such asnews organizations, to submit bulk messages.

To gain access to GSM services, such as speech, data, and short messageservice (SMS), the MS first registers with the network to indicate itscurrent location by performing a location update and IMSI attachprocedure. The MS 1102 sends a location update including its currentlocation information to the MSC/VLR, via the BTS 1104 and the BSC 1106.The location information is then sent to the MS's HLR. The HLR isupdated with the location information received from the MSC/VLR. Thelocation update also is performed when the MS moves to a new locationarea. Typically, the location update is periodically performed to updatethe database as location updating events occur.

The GPRS network 1130 is logically implemented on the GSM core networkarchitecture by introducing two packet-switching network nodes, aserving GPRS support node (SGSN) 1132, a cell broadcast and a GatewayGPRS support node (GGSN) 1134. The SGSN 1132 is at the same hierarchicallevel as the MSC 1108 in the GSM network. The SGSN controls theconnection between the GPRS network and the MS 1102. The SGSN also keepstrack of individual MS's locations and security functions and accesscontrols.

A Cell Broadcast Center (CBC) 1133 communicates cell broadcast messagesthat are typically delivered to multiple users in a specified area. CellBroadcast is one-to-many geographically focused service. It enablesmessages to be communicated to multiple mobile phone customers who arelocated within a given part of its network coverage area at the time themessage is broadcast.

The GGSN 1134 provides a gateway between the GPRS network and a publicpacket network (PDN) or other IP networks 1136. That is, the GGSNprovides interworking functionality with external networks, and sets upa logical link to the MS through the SGSN. When packet-switched dataleaves the GPRS network, it is transferred to an external TCP-IP network1136, such as an X.25 network or the Internet. In order to access GPRSservices, the MS first attaches itself to the GPRS network by performingan attach procedure. The MS then activates a packet data protocol (PDP)context, thus activating a packet communication session between the MS,the SGSN, and the GGSN.

In a GSM/GPRS network, GPRS services and GSM services can be used inparallel. The MS can operate in one three classes: class A, class B, andclass C. A class A MS can attach to the network for both GPRS servicesand GSM services simultaneously. A class A MS also supports simultaneousoperation of GPRS services and GSM services. For example, class Amobiles can receive GSM voice/data/SMS calls and GPRS data calls at thesame time.

A class B MS can attach to the network for both GPRS services and GSMservices simultaneously. However, a class B MS does not supportsimultaneous operation of the GPRS services and GSM services. That is, aclass B MS can only use one of the two services at a given time.

A class C MS can attach for only one of the GPRS services and GSMservices at a time. Simultaneous attachment and operation of GPRSservices and GSM services is not possible with a class C MS.

A GPRS network 1130 can be designed to operate in three networkoperation modes (NOM1, NOM2 and NOM3). A network operation mode of aGPRS network is indicated by a parameter in system information messagestransmitted within a cell. The system information messages dictates a MSwhere to listen for paging messages and how signal towards the network.The network operation mode represents the capabilities of the GPRSnetwork. In a NOM1 network, a MS can receive pages from a circuitswitched domain (voice call) when engaged in a data call. The MS cansuspend the data call or take both simultaneously, depending on theability of the MS. In a NOM2 network, a MS may not received pages from acircuit switched domain when engaged in a data call, since the MS isreceiving data and is not listening to a paging channel In a NOM3network, a MS can monitor pages for a circuit switched network whilereceived data and vise versa.

The IP multimedia network 1138 was introduced with 3GPP Release 5, andincludes an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) 1140 to provide richmultimedia services to end users. A representative set of the networkentities within the IMS 1140 are a call/session control function (CSCF),a media gateway control function (MGCF) 1146, a media gateway (MGW)1148, and a master subscriber database, called a home subscriber server(HSS) 1150. The HSS 1150 may be common to the GSM network 1101, the GPRSnetwork 1130 as well as the IP multimedia network 1138.

The IP multimedia system 1140 is built around the call/session controlfunction, of which there are three types: an interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF)1143, a proxy CSCF (P-CSCF) 1142, and a serving CSCF (S-CSCF) 1144. TheP-CSCF 1142 is the MS's first point of contact with the IMS 1140. TheP-CSCF 1142 forwards session initiation protocol (SIP) messages receivedfrom the MS to an SIP server in a home network (and vice versa) of theMS. The P-CSCF 1142 may also modify an outgoing request according to aset of rules defined by the network operator (for example, addressanalysis and potential modification).

The I-CSCF 1143, forms an entrance to a home network and hides the innertopology of the home network from other networks and providesflexibility for selecting an S-CSCF. The I-CSCF 1143 may contact asubscriber location function (SLF) 1145 to determine which HSS 1150 touse for the particular subscriber, if multiple HSS's 1150 are present.The S-CSCF 1144 performs the session control services for the MS 1102.This includes routing originating sessions to external networks androuting terminating sessions to visited networks. The S-CSCF 1144 alsodecides whether an application server (AS) 1152 is required to receiveinformation on an incoming SIP session request to ensure appropriateservice handling. This decision is based on information received fromthe HSS 1150 (or other sources, such as an application server 1152). TheAS 1152 also communicates to a location server 1156 (e.g., a GatewayMobile Location Center (GMLC)) that provides a position (e.g.,latitude/longitude coordinates) of the MS 1102.

The HSS 1150 contains a subscriber profile and keeps track of which corenetwork node is currently handling the subscriber. It also supportssubscriber authentication and authorization functions (AAA). In networkswith more than one HSS 1150, a subscriber location function providesinformation on the HSS 1150 that contains the profile of a givensubscriber.

The MGCF 1146 provides interworking functionality between SIP sessioncontrol signaling from the IMS 1140 and ISUP/BICC call control signalingfrom the external GSTN networks (not shown). It also controls the mediagateway (MGW) 1148 that provides user-plane interworking functionality(e.g., converting between AMR- and PCM-coded voice). The MGW 1148 alsocommunicates with other IP multimedia networks 1154.

Push to Talk over Cellular (PoC) capable mobile phones register with thewireless network when the phones are in a predefined area (e.g., jobsite, etc.). When the mobile phones leave the area, they register withthe network in their new location as being outside the predefined area.This registration, however, does not indicate the actual physicallocation of the mobile phones outside the pre-defined area.

While example embodiments of the utilization of IP cellular broadcastsystems to receive/distribute multimedia alerts have been described inconnection with various computing devices/processor, the underlyingconcepts can be applied to any computing device, processor, or systemcapable of utilizing IP cellular broadcast systems to receive/distributemultimedia alerts. The various techniques described herein can beimplemented in connection with hardware or software or, whereappropriate, with a combination of both. Thus, the methods andapparatuses for the utilization of IP cellular broadcast systems toreceive/distribute multimedia alerts, or certain aspects or portionsthereof, can take the form of program code (i.e., instructions) embodiedin tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, orany other machine-readable storage medium, wherein, when the programcode is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, themachine becomes an apparatus for the utilization of IP cellularbroadcast systems to receive multimedia alerts. In the case of programcode execution on programmable computers, the computing device willgenerally include a processor, a storage medium readable by theprocessor (including volatile and non-volatile memory and/or storageelements), at least one input device, and at least one output device.The program(s) can be implemented in assembly or machine language, ifdesired. The language can be a compiled or interpreted language, andcombined with hardware implementations.

The methods and apparatuses for the utilization of IP cellular broadcastsystems to receive/distribute multimedia alerts also can be practicedvia communications embodied in the form of program code that istransmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electricalwiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via any other form oftransmission, wherein, when the program code is received and loaded intoand executed by a machine, such as an EPROM, a gate array, aprogrammable logic device (PLD), a client computer, or the like, themachine becomes an apparatus for the utilization of IP cellularbroadcast systems to receive/distribute multimedia alerts. Whenimplemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code combineswith the processor to provide a unique apparatus that operates to invokethe functionality of the utilization of IP cellular broadcast systems toreceive/distribute multimedia alerts. Additionally, any storagetechniques used in connection with the utilization of IP cellularbroadcast systems to receive/distribute multimedia alerts can invariablybe a combination of hardware and software.

While the utilization of IP cellular broadcast systems toreceive/distribute multimedia alerts has been described in connectionwith the various embodiments of the various figures, it is to beunderstood that other similar embodiments can be used or modificationsand additions can be made to the described embodiment for performing thesame function of utilizing IP cellular broadcast systems toreceive/distribute multimedia alerts without deviating therefrom. Forexample, one skilled in the art will recognize that the utilization ofIP cellular broadcast systems to receive/distribute multimedia alerts aas described in the present application may apply to any environment,whether wired or wireless, and may be applied to any number of suchdevices connected via a communications network and interacting acrossthe network. Therefore, the utilization of IP cellular broadcast systemsto receive/distribute multimedia alerts should not be limited to anysingle embodiment, but rather should be construed in breadth and scopein accordance with the appended claims.

1. A method for providing a multimedia alert message pertaining to analert, the method comprising providing the multimedia message via anInternet Protocol cellular broadcast technology.
 2. The method inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the multimedia alert message comprisesat least one of textual content, graphic content, video content, oraudio content.
 3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein themultimedia alert message comprises a combination of at least two oftextual content, graphic content, video content, or audio content. 4.The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising providing themultimedia alert message via a global system for mobilecommunications/universal mobile telecommunications/long term evolutionwireless communications network.
 5. The method in accordance with claim4, further comprising providing the multimedia alert message via amultimedia broadcast multicast service.
 6. The method in accordance withclaim 1, further comprising providing the multimedia alert message via acode division multiple access mobile telecommunications wirelesscommunications network.
 7. The method in accordance with claim 6,further comprising providing the multimedia alert message via abroadcast and multicast service.
 8. The method in accordance with claim1, further comprising: providing an indication of a location ofadditional multimedia associated with the alert.
 9. The method inaccordance with claim 8, wherein: the indication of the location of theadditional multimedia comprises a link to at least one uniform resourcelocator (URL); and the additional multimedia is retrievable via the atleast one URL.
 10. A system for transmitting a multimedia alert messagepertaining to an alert, the system comprising a processor configure totransmit the multimedia message via an Internet Protocol cellularbroadcast technology.
 11. The system in accordance with claim 10,wherein the multimedia alert message comprises at least one of textualcontent, graphic content, video content, or audio content.
 12. Thesystem in accordance with claim 10, wherein the multimedia alert messagecomprises a combination of at least two of textual content, graphiccontent, video content, or audio content.
 13. The system in accordancewith claim 10, the processor further configured to transmit themultimedia alert message via a global system for mobilecommunications/universal mobile telecommunications/long term evolutionwireless communications network.
 14. The system in accordance with claim13, the processor further configured to transmit the multimedia alertmessage via a multimedia broadcast multicast service.
 15. The system inaccordance with claim 10, the processor further configured to transmitthe multimedia alert message via a code division multiple access mobiletelecommunications wireless communications network.
 16. The system inaccordance with claim 15, the processor further configured to transmitthe multimedia alert message via a broadcast and multicast service. 17.The system in accordance with claim 10, the processor further configuredto transmit an indication of a location of additional multimediaassociated with the alert.
 18. The system in accordance with claim 17,wherein: the indication of the location of the additional multimediacomprises a link to at least one uniform resource locator (URL); and theadditional multimedia is retrievable via the at least one URL.